+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ In Greek mythology, Mnemosyne, the goddess of Memory...
+
+
+ ...was the mother of the Muses, the goddesses of inspiration.
+
+
+ music
+
+
+ theatre
+
+
+ weird fanfic
+
+
+
+
+
+ So, how's Memory and Inspiration doing in schools?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ bla
+ bla
+ bla
+ bla
+ bla
+ bla
+ bla
+ bla
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Yeah.
+
+
+ Not only are common practices like lectures, cramming, and re-reading boring,
+ science has shown they don't even work well.*
+
+
+
+
+
+ * all sources and links will be at the end of this comic!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But what if I said there's a way to learn
+ that's evidence-based and fun?
+
+
+ What if I said there's a memory card game you can play, for 20 minutes a day,
+ to store anything you choose into long-term memory, forever?*
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ * until you die
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ And it's awesome.
+ I started using Spaced Repetition earlier this year to learn French.
+
+
+ In two months, I learnt more words than I did in two years
+ of high school French classes.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Since then, I've used Spaced Repetition to remember all sorts of things...
+
+
+ ukulele chords
+
+
+ computer code
+
+
+ friends' birthdays
+
+
+ anything interesting i find in books, talks, articles, etc!
+
+
+ ...and this lil' memory card game became a core part of my life.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ In short, Spaced Repetition = testing + time.
+
+
+ You test yourself on a fact repeatedly, spacing out your repetitions over time.
+ (But won't this take forever? Ah, as we'll see later, there's a trick...)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Spaced Repetition is free, evidence-based, and so simple you can do it with a shoebox.
+
+
+ nicky shut up
+
+
+ So, what's the catch? Why isn't everyone already doing Spaced Repetition?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Well, the catch is that making any new habit is hard
+ – especially a weird habit like Spaced Repetition.
+
+
+ teacher's coming
+
+
+ That's why I made this badly-drawn interactive comic.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ In this comic on Spaced Repetition,
+ I'll show you WHY it works, HOW it works...
+
+
+ ...and help you get started with it TODAY.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Also, throughout this comic,
+ you can test yourself on what you've learnt,
+ at spaced-out intervals.
+ That is: you'll use Spaced Repetition to learn about Spaced Repetition.
+
+
+ Like so:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Still, isn't "rote memorization" bad?
+ Can't we look everything up these days?
+ Shouldn't we learn creativity & critical thinking instead?
+
+
+ There is no "instead".
+ Cognitive science shows
+ you need memorization for creativity & critical thinking.
+ (Imagine writing an essay if you know no words!)
+
+
+ MEMORY
+
+
+ art
+
+
+ science
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Spaced Repetition isn't a "study trick".
+ It isn't a "life hack".
+
+
+ It's a way to take back control of your mind.
+ To make long-term memory a choice.
+ To develop a lifelong love of learning...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ ...to mother your own, inner Muse.
+
+
+ Tony Stark nearly gasped as a gloved hand trailed down his spine.
+ The steady pressure was smooth and almost reassuring.
+ Obama chuckled. “You mean, the–
+
+
+ Let's begin.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ THE SCIENCE of
+ SPACED REPETITION
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ In 1885, Hermann Ebbinghaus performed an act of scientific masochism.
+
+
+ The German psychologist memorized thousands of nonsense words,
+ recorded how much he forgot over time, and discovered...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ THE FORGETTING CURVE
+
+
+ He found that you forget most of what you learn in the first 24 hours,
+ then – if you don’t practice recall – your remaining memories decay exponentially.*
+
+
+
+
+
+ * technically the curve isn't exactly
+
+ exponential, but, eh, close enough.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Philosophers have debated about memory for millennia,
+ but Ebbinghaus was the first to do actual experiments.
+ (which have been replicated)
+
+
+ plz...
+
+
+ kill...
+
+
+ me...
+
+
+ For that reason, Hermann Ebbinghaus is known as
+ the pioneer of the science of memory.
+
+
+
+
+
+ Here’s a playable simulation of the Forgetting Curve.
+ Change the rate of memory decay. What happens to the curve?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ As you can see, the less the decay, the flatter the curve –
+ that is, the longer the memory lasts.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ How fast a person’s memory decays depends on the person and the memory...
+
+
+ hi! sorry, what's your name again?
+
+
+ haha. it's susan.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But in general, a memory’s “rate of decay” slows down each time you actively recall it.
+ (versus passively re-reading it)
+
+
+ susan. susan. susan. susan. susan.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (although, when you stop practicing, it still decays.)
+
+
+ okay bye sarah!
+
+
+ susan.
+
+
+ bye sandy!
+
+
+ SUSAN.
+
+
+
+
+
+ Here’s the simulation again, with a single active recall session.
+
+ (grey line: what memory would've been without the recall)
+
+ Change the recall timing to see how it affects the curve:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ A single recall boosts memory for a bit... but in the long run,
+ due to exponential decay of memory, a single recall changes nothing.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Is there a better way to learn?
+ There is! The trick to remembering...
+
+
+ ...is to almost forget.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ To understand this, think about training your muscles.
+ You’ll gain nothing with a weight that’s too easy...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ ...nor one that’s too hard.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The same’s true of training your brain.
+ You need desirable difficulty: the sweet spot of just-hard-enough.
+
+
+ comfort
+
+
+ discomfort
+
+
+ too easy
+
+
+ just right
+
+
+ too hard
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Therefore: to best learn something, you need to recall it...
+
+
+ ...just as you’re about to forget it.
+
+
+
+
+
+ Same simulation as before, but now it shows the
+ sweet spot –
+ where you’ve forgotten just a little bit.
+ Put the recall in the middle of the sweet spot. What happens?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ See? If you time a recall just right,
+ you can slow down the decay by a bit!
+ Now, what about multiple recalls?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Let’s say you’re
+ lazy
+ time-efficient, so you’re only doing 4 recall sessions.
+
+
+ Question:
+ what’s the best way to spread out your recalls?
+
+
+ susan
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Should you have evenly spaced gaps?
+ Gaps of increasing length?
+ Gaps of decreasing length?
+ Or make it unpredictable, to keep you on your toes?
+
+
+ = recall
+
+
+ time
+
+
+ even gaps:
+
+
+ increasing gaps:
+
+
+ decreasing gaps:
+
+
+ random gaps:
+
+
+
+
+
+ Give it your best guess,
+ then when you’re ready, flip the card over ↓
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Which is very counter-intuitive!
+ You can prove to yourself this is true, by playing with the sim below.
+
+ Get all recalls into the middle of the sweet spot.
+ What spacing do you get?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (To prove this isn't a fluke,
+ here’s a sim where you can change
+ the initial memory decay & sweet spot.
+ Note how, in all but the extreme cases,
+ the best schedule is still “increasing gaps”!)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Why must the gaps increase?
+ Because: each time you do a recall at the sweet spot of forgetting,
+ the memory’s decay slows down...
+
+
+ it's
+
+
+ SUSAN!
+
+
+ –the fu
+
+
+
+ ...meaning it’ll take longer
+ to hit the sweet spot next time!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But you know what’s sweeter?
+ This also means if you time your recalls just right...
+
+
+ ...you can easily keep any number of things in your long-term memory,
+ FOREVER.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ And speaking of doing active recall in order to learn,
+ let's do some active recall on what we just learnt:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Well that's nice,
+ but actually finding a good Spaced Repetition schedule must be hard, right?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Au contraire!
+ It’s actually so simple, you can even create your own automatic scheduler...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ ...using a shoebox.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ THE ART of
+ SPACED REPETITION
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ You don't have to use a shoebox for Spaced Repetition,
+ but it's funnier if you do.
+
+
+ and this is my private tutor
+
+
+ ???
+
+
+ they're TRAINERS
+
+
+
+ we're not friends anymore
+
+
+
+ (Later, we'll look at some Spaced Repetition apps,
+ like Anki & Tinycards)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ This setup is called The Leitner Box.
+ It's like a card game you play against yourself!
+
+
+ First, divide your box up into seven "Levels".
+ (You can have more or fewer if you like!)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ All new flashcards start at Level 1.
+
+
+ (If you're new to Spaced Repetition, I recommend starting with 5 new cards a day.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ When you review a card, and get it right, it moves up one Level.
+
+
+ (If you're at the final Level, congrats!
+ Your card retires. Off it goes, to card heaven.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But if you review a card, and get it wrong... it has to go
+ all the way back down to Level 1.
+
+
+ (If it's already at Level 1, good news:
+ you can keep testing yourself on it until you get it right,
+ and move it up to Level 2)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But when do we review cards?
+ That's the trick.
+ In the Leitner Box, we review Level 1 cards every day,
+ Level 2 every two days, Level 3 every FOUR days,
+ Level 4 every EIGHT days, etc...
+
+
+ The pattern is: we double the gap (# of days between reviews) for each Level!
+
+
+
+
+
+ Here's what the looping 64-day game calendar looks like:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (Note: the reason we review Level 1 at the end
+ is so you'll see your new cards and the cards you forgot from higher Levels.)
+
+
+ (At the end of a daily game of Spaced Repetition,
+ leave no cards in Level 1.
+ Test yourself until you can get them all right,
+ and move them up to Level 2!)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (Note #2: Spaced Repetition apps like Anki use a more sophisticated algorithm...)
+
+
+ (...but at its core, they work on the same principles as the Leitner Box)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (Note #3: Oh, and with a few index cards & tape,
+ you can make your own foldable, looping calendar!)
+
+
+ (at the end, I'll link to a video tutorial for crafting a Leitner Box)
+
+
+
+
+
+ Now, to show the game in action!
+ Here's a step-by-step simulation of the Leitner Box:
+ (we'll see a month-by-month sim later)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Each daily review takes 20-30 minutes.
+ Instead of watching a TV episode, you could play a card game –
+ and remember anything you want for life.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ However, habits are hard. If you start big, you won't get the ball rolling...
+
+
+ But if you start small, you can gain momentum,
+ and roll your snowball bigger and bigger.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ That's why I recommend starting with 5 new cards a day.
+
+
+ Once you're comfortable with that, you can do 10 new cards/day.
+ Then 15. Then 20, 25, 30.
+
+
+ And at 30 new cards a day, you can learn 10,000+ new facts/words/etc a year.
+
+
+ na na na na na na na na na
+
+
+ katamari damacy
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Now, here's the month-by-month simulation.
+ Use this to calculate in advance how much you can learn with Spaced Repetition!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ That's it. That's how you can make long-term memory a choice.
+
+
+ Let's let that sink in. Take a break, and recall what we just learnt:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Spaced Repetition almost seems too good to be true.
+
+ And it is... IF you fall for some very common pitfalls.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Memory isn't a bookshelf
+ where you collect random giant tomes to impress others.
+
+
+ a bunch of
+
+
+ crap you'll
+
+
+ never get
+
+
+ around to
+
+
+ reading
+
+
+ That's to say: Spaced Repetition will fail if your cards feel
+ bloated, disconnected or meaningless.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Instead, memory is like a jigsaw puzzle: full of small, connected pieces.
+ (This is also how neurons work: lots of small, connected things)
+
+
+ It's not about collection, it's about connection.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Thus, to get the most out of Spaced Repetition,
+ you must make your cards...
+
+
+ SMALL
+
+
+ CONNECTED
+
+
+ & MEANINGFUL
+
+
+
+
+
+ Let's see how.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ SMALL
+
+
+
+
+
+ This card sucks:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ It's too big. Too much information.
+
+
+ Let's cut it up into smaller, connected pieces!
+ As a rule of thumb, each flashcard should have one & only one idea.
+ Like so:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Facts connect to facts.
+ But there's other, more playful ways for cards to be...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ CONNECTED
+
+
+
+
+
+ This card is... alright.
+ It's an English word on the front, French word on the back.
+
+ It's the standard for most language-learning flashcards:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But you know what would make it stick in memory better?
+
+
+ If you connected it to
+ pictures, sounds, context, and/or personal details!
+ Like so:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The front now has a drawing of a cat (picture)
+ with a fill-in-the-blank French sentence (context: grammar)
+ about my childhood cat, Stripes. (personal)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The back now has a symbol of the noun's gender (picture),
+ its pronunciation (sound*),
+ and a warning about the female version of the noun. (context: slang)
+
+
+ * Obviously, paper cards can't play sounds.
+ But apps like Anki/Tinycards can!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But the most important connection of all,
+ is to connect your learning to something that is...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ MEANINGFUL
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Personally, here's how I've learnt best:
+ First, I try (emphasis on try) to do something.
+
+
+ play the ukulele
+
+
+ read french comics
+
+
+ make a web game
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Inevitably, I'll get stuck.
+ In that moment, I'll look up what I need,
+ and learn something.
+
+
+ how do you play F#?
+
+
+ what's "attraper" mean?
+
+
+ why is javascript such a piece of sh–
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ And so on.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ That, I believe, is the best way to keep yourself motivated while learning:
+
+
+ By making sure your learning is in service of doing something you care about.
+
+
+
+
+
+ Speaking of learning, let's practice recalling what we've learnt:
+ (this will be the second-last time!)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The consensus in the Spaced Repetition community is,
+ after a while, you should make your own cards.
+
+
+ This way, you can connect facts to what you know, what you love.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ That's why, in the final part of this interactive comic,
+ you're going to make your own cards!
+
+
+ And those cards will be about...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ YOU
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ GET STARTED TODAY!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ To help you get started with Spaced Repetition today,
+ you need to answer four questions:
+
+
+
+ WHAT?
+
+
+ WHY?
+
+
+ HOW?
+
+
+ WHEN?
+
+
+
+
+
+ You'll answer these questions by making flashcards!
+ So, here's the front of our first flashcard, our first question:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ For example, you could use Spaced Repetition to help you learn...
+
+
+ a new language
+
+
+ a new instrument
+
+
+ computer programming
+
+
+ details of friends' lives
+
+
+ anything interesting you find, anywhere!
+
+
+ all the pokémon
+
+
+ Now, you write your answer on the back:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (note: you can scroll back here & change your answer later)
+
+
+
+
+
+ However, recall that for Spaced Repetition to work,
+ you need to connect it to something you care about.
+ So our next question is:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ That may be too philosophical, so here's some
+ concrete examples of a why behind a what:
+
+
+ WHAT: a new language
+
+ WHY: to speak to friends, family, lovers in their native tongue
+
+
+ WHAT: computer programming
+
+ WHY: to make money so you can eat
+
+
+ WHAT: anything interesting
+
+ WHY: curiosity, for its own sake!
+
+
+ So... what's your why?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ You now have your what and why... but we still need to pick a how!
+ That is, what tool/app do you want to use?
+ Our next card asks:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ I currently use
+ The Leitner Box,
+ but my friends use
+ Anki,
+ and for a while I used
+ TinyCards.
+ (links open in new tabs)
+ Here's how they compare:
+
+
+ Leitner Box
+
+ Pros: arts-and-craftsy, easy to use
+
+ Cons: not as portable as an app
+
+
+ Anki (app)
+
+ Pros: huge community, open-source, lots of powerful features
+
+ Cons: kinda ugly
+
+
+ TinyCards (app)
+
+ Pros: beautiful design, easy to use
+
+ Cons: max 150 cards per deck, doesn't let you decide if you got a card right
+
+
+ (Want something else?
+ Here's a few other tools:
+ SuperMemo,
+ NimbleNotes,
+ Mnemosyne)
+
+
+ * anti-disclaimer: i am not affiliated with any of these.
+ i just think they're cool & helpful!
+
+
+
+
+
+ So, what's it gonna be?
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Just one card left!
+ Now: doing Spaced Repetition is actually quite easy...
+ however, doing it as a daily habit is hard.
+
+
+ Why? Because getting the ball rolling on any new habit is hard.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Hard, but straightforward.
+ The science of habits shows that if you do the same thing, given the same cue,
+ over and over...
+
+
+ have a nice day!
+
+
+ thanks, you too!
+
+
+ happy holidays!
+
+
+ thanks, you too!
+
+
+ here's your change!
+
+
+ thanks, you too!
+
+
+ ...it'll become a habit, for better or worse.
+ So for a Spaced Repetition habit, our question is:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ For example, you could play the Spaced Repetition game...
+
+
+ after you wake up
+
+
+ on your commute
+
+
+ before sleeping
+
+
+ It doesn't really matter when you do it, as long as you do it
+ daily and consistently (more or less - you can skip a day once in a while).
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (Tip: whenever I try to create a new habit,
+ I draw a circle on a calendar for each day I successfully do it)
+
+
+ (It's a game I play with myself! The goal is to try not break
+ my streak, and build the longest chain I can.)
+
+
+
+
+
+ Now, let's fill out that final flashcard:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Et voilà, here's all four of your flashcards, all about you!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But like I said, I want to help you take control of your memory today.
+
+
+ Not "eventually", not "tomorrow", TODAY.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ so to help...
+
+
+ let's download some
+
+ COOL GOODIES
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ FIRST:
+
+ to remind you to play the Spaced Repetition game daily!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ SECOND:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ And finally,
+ THIRD:
+ a .zip of all the flashcards you've been practicing in this interactive comic!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (These can be your first few days' worth of Spaced Repetition cards,
+ to help you get started! And as a plus, you'll get to remember everything
+ you learnt here today, forever-ish.)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Which reminds me...
+
+
+ one last goodbye,
+ for old time's sake,
+ the final swan song!
+
+
+ ...let's review our flashcards, all of them:
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Sniff...
+ It's always so hard to say goodbye...
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ HONK
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ I'll miss the time we had together...
+
+
+ ...but I hope we live on in each others' memories!
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ If you're a student, I hope Spaced Repetition
+ helps you be more confident, and take learning into your own hands.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ If you're a teacher,
+ please oh please tell your students about Spaced Repetition
+ (& other evidence-based study habits) early on.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ But whether you're in or out of school,
+ I hope Spaced Repetition helps you develop your memory, your mind,
+ your Muse...
+
+
+ "no!" screamed the mitochondria, as she slid down the cell's warm, wet throat. "i don't–
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ ...and learn one of life's greatest loves:
+
+
+ a lifelong love of learning.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ (Want to learn/play more? Further reading & credits below!)
+
+ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Also, this interactive comic is
+
+
+
+
+ PUBLIC DOMAIN
+
+
+
+ meaning you can freely use this thing for educational, personal, or even commercial purposes.
+ You already have my permission!
+
+ (Download the code)
+
+ (Translate this comic)
+
+
+
+
+ However, I'm only able to do this thanks to my 1,000+ Patreon supporters.
+ They let me keep doing what I love. Thank you! 💖
+
+ (Wanna chip in too? Click here!)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Further Reading
+
+
+
+ Something something shoulders of giants.
+ Here are the reads that made Spaced Repetition a part of my daily life:
+
+
+
+
+ 🤓
+
+ Augmenting Long-Term Memory
+ by Michael Nielsen
+ showed me that Spaced Repetition wasn't just a tool for memorization,
+ it's a tool to build deep understanding. It could even be a way of life.
+
+
+ 💬
+
+ Fluent Forever
+ by Gabriel Wyner
+ convinced me to finally (re)start learning French,
+ and create a Leitner Box. (my 64-day calendar was adapted from this book)
+
+
+ 🃏
+
+ 20 Rules for Cards
+ by Piotr Wozniak taught me how to squeeze the most out of Spaced Repetition.
+ (Note: the author also invented the algorithm used by Anki!)
+
+
+
+ And my favorite reads on the science of learning:
+
+
+
+ 👩🎓
+
+ Why Don't Students Like School?
+ by Daniel Willingham
+ proved to me that "mere memorization" is actually necessary
+ for creativity & critical thinking.
+
+
+ ✏️
+
+ What Works, What Doesn't [PDF]
+
+ by Dunlosky et al
+ summarizes 200+ studies on various learning methods.
+ In sum: common techniques like re-reading & highlighting don't work,
+ less-common techniques like spacing & self-testing do.
+
+ (Link to original paper)
+
+
+ 👀 Thank you to all my playtesters for making this project not suck:
+
+ Aatish Bhatia, Adam Filinovich, Aimee Jarboe, Alex Jaffe, Amit Patel, Andy Matuschak, B Cavello, Chris Walker, Frank Lantz, Gal Green, Glen Chiacchieri, Hamish Todd, Henry Reich, Jacque Goupil, James Lytle,
+ Jez Swanson, Josh Comeau, Kayle Sawyer, Levi Robertson, Marcelo Gallardo, Martyna Wasiluk, Michael Nielsen, Mikayla Hutchinson, Mike Gifford, Monica Srivastava, Owen Landgren,
+ Paul Butler, Paul Simeon, Philipp Wacker, Pontus Granström, Rowan, Sebastian Morr, SpacieCat, Tanya Short, Tim & Alexandra Swast, Tom Hermans, Toph Tucker, Will Harris-Braun, Zeno Rogue
+
+
+
+
+
+ Intro
+ ·
+ The Science
+ ·
+ The Art
+ ·
+ Get Started!
+ ·
+ Credits
+
+
+
+
+ try to recall ↑
+ then flip ↻
+
+
+ (cards left: [N])
+
+
+ did you remember this?
+
+
+ nah, try again
+
+
+ yup, onwards!
+
+
+ done for now! keep scrolling
+
+ ↓
+
+
+ that's all, folks!
+
+ ↓
+
+
+
+
+ strength of memory →
+
+
+ time →
+
+
+ decay:
+
+
+ sweet spot:
+
+
+ timing of recall:
+
+
+ timing of recalls:
+
+
+ auto-optimize!
+
+
+
+
+
+ On Day [N]...
+
+
+ review Levels [N] (in that order)
+
+
+ (and then loop back to Day 1!)
+
+
+
+
+ Day [N]
+
+
+ to review: Level
+
+
+ review Level [N]
+
+
+ add [N] new cards
+
+
+ total: [N] cards!
+
+
+ ([N] retired)
+
+
+ next step
+
+
+ next day
+
+
+ next week
+
+
+ next month
+
+
+ [N] new cards a day
+
+
+ recall [N]% of cards wrong
+
+
+ RESET
+
+
+
+
+ Q:
+
+
+
+ type your answer here
+
+
+ or pick one of these suggestions:
+
+
+
+
+
Anything interesting!
+
A language
+
Music
+
Coding
+
Personal
+
(other)
+
+
+
For people I love
+
For my own sake
+
For curiosity's sake
+
(other)
+
+
+
Leitner Box
+
Anki
+
TinyCards
+
(other)
+
+
+
In the morning
+
On my commute
+
In the evening
+
(other)
+
+
+
+
+ WHAT:
+
+
+ WHY:
+
+
+ DO
+
+
+ ME!
+
+
+ wallpaper
+
+
+ a wallpaper for your desktop,
+
+
+ a lock-screen wallpaper for your phone,
+
+
+ a video, by my dear friend Chris Walker, on how to craft your very own Leitner Box!
+
+
+
+ (And here's a similar tutorial, in IKEA form:)
+
+
+
+
+ a link to
+
+ TinyCards!
+ (i recommend checking out their
+
+ geography decks)
+
+
+ links to tutorials on crafting a Leitner Box
+
+ [video]
+
+ [pdf],
+
+ the Anki app,
+ and
+
+ TinyCards!
+
+
+
+
+ DOWNLOAD ALL CARDS
+
+
+ DOWNLOADING...
+
+
+ DONE! Check your Downloads folder.
+
+
+
+
+ How To Remember Anything Forever-ish
+
+
+ an interactive comic on the art & science of memory
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ and the name of this game is...
+
+
+
+
+
+ SPACED REPETITION
+
+
+
+
+ Spaced Repetition = ____ + ____
+
+
+
+
+
+ testing + time
+
+
+
+
+ 3 common but ineffective learning/teaching practices are...
+
+
+
+
+ ...lectures, cramming, and re-reading
+
+
+
+
+ In Greek Mythology,
+ the goddess of ____
+ was the mother of the goddesses of
+ ________
+
+
+
+
+
+ Memory is the mother of Inspiration
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ the best way to space out your recalls is...
+
+
+
+
+
+ ...with increasing gaps!
+
+
+
+
+ The pioneer of the experimental science of memory was...
+
+
+
+
+
+ Hermann Ebbinghaus
+
+
+
+
+ The Forgetting Curve (without any recalls) looks like...
+
+
+
+
+
+ (note: it decays quickly, then slowly - "exponential decay")
+
+
+
+
+ The Forgetting Curve (with well-spaced recalls) looks like...
+
+
+
+
+
+ (note: the gaps between recalls increase in length)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ In the Leitner Box, we ______
+ the gap (# of days between reviews) for each Level
+
+
+
+
+
+ double the gap
+
+
+
+
+ The Leitner Box game:
+
+ when you get a card right, you move it ______ .
+
+
+
+
+
+ up one Level
+
+
+
+
+ The Leitner Box game:
+
+ when you get a card wrong, you move it ______ .
+
+
+
+
+
+ back to Level 1!
+
+
+
+
+ According to some random comic-game on the internet,
+ my Spaced Repetition flashcards should be
+ ______ ,
+ ______ , and
+ ______ .
+
+
+
+
+
+ small, connected & meaningful
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ What's this?
+
+
+
+
+ This organelle is called "mitochondria".
+ Mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.
+ They're found in almost all eukaryotic (nucleus-having) organisms.
+ The most widely-accepted hypothesis for the origin of mitochondria is Endosymbiotic Theory:
+ around ~1.5 billion years ago, a prokaryotic (nucleus-lacking) cell that was "eaten" by another cell,
+ somehow survived, and has continued to live inside them ever since.
+
+
+
+
+
+ What's this?
+
+
+
+
+ Mitochondria
+
+
+
+
+
+ Mitochondria is the _______ of the cell
+
+
+
+
+ powerhouse
+
+ // bonus note: seriously though, we'd all be dead without 'em.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ Mitochondria is found in almost all ____ organisms.
+
+
+
+
+ eukaryotic
+
+
+
+
+ Eukaryotes are cells that...
+
+
+
+
+
+ have a nucleus
+
+ // bonus note: "eu"=good, "karyon"=kernel
+
+
+
+
+
+ Prokaryotes are cells that...
+
+
+
+
+
+ DON'T have a nucleus
+
+ // bonus note: "pro"=before, "karyon"=kernel
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ The most widely-accepted hypothesis for the origin of mitochondria is...
+
+
+ FIRST:
+
+ to remind you to play the Spaced Repetition game daily!
+
+